Danny Spy and the Four Thirty Kid

My brothers, Nathanael and Andrew, and I recently completed a Audio Drama, Danny Spy and the Four-Thirty Kid. Andrew wrote the script and was the voice of the main character, Nathanael was the producer and head sound designer, I was a voice for one of the characters and was also assistant sound designer. Our young neighbor also acted in it and did a very good job, especially for his age!

We have started a blog where we will post our audio dramas. I have set up link on the side of my blog that will take you to the AMATEUR PRODUCTIONS blog. We are hoping to have Danny Spy and the Four-Thirty Kid up on the blog soon for your enjoyment.

SPRING HAS SPRUNG!

When dawn came this morning, it was discovered that sometime late last night or early this morning we had been vandalized by people anxious for spring!

They planted flowers in snowbanks,

put tulips in our porch flower box,

hung up hanging baskets,

put out a welcome sign and butterfly,

tied flowers to our trellis,

and tied a spring ornament onto our mailbox!

They even put up a "Welcome spring and welcome home Timothy banner!"

As you can imagine we were shocked! The good news is that one of the culprits got caught on camera, please be on the look out for this dangerous person...

CAUGHT ON CAMERA!

Yes, it was Mom, Rosanna & I!

Since today was the first day of spring, we got up really early this morning...

...and went outside in the cold...

to make it look a little more like spring.

Do you know how hard (and cold!) it is to plant flowers in a snowbank?

After we finished with the flowers, we were faced with the problem of how to get the banner up...ah, just in time...a knight in shining armour! Actually Nathanael was kidnapped and told that he wasn't having breakfast unless he helped us!

NATHANAEL: "Girls, it's 5:45 AM, and -8 degrees! You do know that these decorations will not bring in Spring any faster don't you?"

At last, the job is complete! Hot Chocolate anyone?

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING!!

On the way home...

Tim is leaving Israel tonight

and will be home tomorrow evening!

I can hardly wait to see his

pictures and hear about his trip!

Hopefully I will post some Israel pictures soon....

Off to Israel!

Well, although it probably seemed to my brother Timothy that March 9th would never come, it did and he left this morning for his ten day trip to Israel. I can hardly wait to see his pictures when he comes home next Friday.

(Anybody looking excited?)

Timothy loves chocolate, so Mom and I experimented with a new recipe that we found recently...

...Chocolate French Toast.

Tim: "Hmm...I don't see the nutrition information listed anywhere..."

The verdict? Well, let's just say some new recipes are made twice while others are written off as experiments!

Tim & Len (a brother-in-christ who is also going on the Israel trip) looking over the itinerary.

Mom going through the lists of

"Don't forget to...

Be careful about...

Make sure you...

Do you have...?"

Me: "Okay Tim, this is the last picture I'll take, I promise!"


And they're off!

Have a wonderful trip Tim!

Bible Club...

On Friday afternoons, my brother Nathanael & I, teach a bible club for kids in our neighborhood. I teach the bible verse, keep track of the contest points and lead the singing, and Nathanael teaches the Bible Lesson.

(Above) Me leading singing

(Below) Nathanael teaching the lesson

This week's lesson was on the parable of the sower from Matthew chapter 13.

Today we only had three kids come, as our group has been significantly smaller than last year. Please pray that more kids will come out and hear the gospel.

I used a new recipe for the snack time this afternoon, Frosted Molasses Cookies. The frosting has a touch of ginger in it that just goes so well with the cookies. The recipe for them is below.

Frosted Molasses Cookies

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 cup dark molasses
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon ground ginger
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1 cup buttermilk

FROSTING:
1/4 cup shortening
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
4 teaspoons milk
Colored sprinkles, optional

Directions: In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar. Beat in eggs, molasses and vanilla. Combine the flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, salt and allspice; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk.

Drop by tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 375° for 7-9 minutes or until set. Remove to wire racks to cool.

For frosting, in a small mixing bowl, cream shortening and butter. Beat in vanilla. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar and ginger. Add milk; beat until light and fluffy. Spread over cookies. Decorate with sprinkles if desired. Store in an airtight container. Yield: 7-1/2 dozen.

Chewy Apple Oatmeal Cookies

I really enjoy baking and trying out new recipes and my brother's have sure never been bothered by that. :)

Anyway, I tried out a new cookie recipe a couple of weeks ago and my family really likes them so I though I would share it here. The cinnamon adds a really yummy flavour to them!

Chewy Apple Oatmeal Cookies:

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup chopped apples

Directions: In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla.

Combine the flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture, beating well after each addition. Stir in oats and apples.

Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand for 1 minute before removing to wire racks. ENJOY! Yield: 4 dozen.


P.S. I was going to post pictures, but they disapeared so fast I did not get the chance! :)